Parallel motion tool



J. w. GEDDES 2,112,193

PARALLEL MOTION TOOL Filed June 2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 22, 1938.J. w. GEDDES 2,112,193

PARALLEL MOTION TOOL Filed June 2, 1936 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2 la'weaaam:Jbian/ W W,

@950 M mag 11W, WW

Patented Mar. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,112,193 7 PARALLEL MOTION 'rooLJohn W. Geddes, Watertown, Mass; assignor to H. K. Porter, Inc.,'Everett, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June '2,1936, Serial No. 83,043

9 Claims.

This invention relates to tools and the object is to provide aparticularly simple and compact tool having parallel operating workingelements or jaws capable of engaging work objects of var- 5 ions sizeswith great firmness. A major field of application is in the constructionof a tool for service primarily as a wrench actuated to grasp the workby closure of the hand in grasping position but which also may beutilized as a pair of pliers or, when supported by the hand or other-Wise, for the purposes of a small vise. Advantages of my invention willbe apparent to those skilled in the art from the following descriptionof the illustrative embodiment thereof in a tool of'the type referred toshown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the tool;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the head thereof with a part removed todisclose interior mechanism and partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3'of Fig. 2 but with the part whichis omitted in Fig. 2 replaced; and

Fig. 4 is a plan of the various parts. disassembled. 1

Referring to the drawings and first more particularly to Fig, 2, theform of tool shown comprises-a body from which'project jaws defining anopen throat in which the piece of work is freely received and a handleportion projecting from the body in a generally opposite direction, theangle between the jaws and the handle portion being dependent upon theparticular purpose for which the tool is intended.-

The body portion herein comprises a block 5, which may be a forging,fixed between side plates or cheeks l and 9, herein by means of theshouldered pin II and a central rivet l3, the position and additionalfunction of which latter will here- 40 inafter be more fully described.The side plates may be further held in spaced position by the shoulderedpin l5 adjacent the upper end of the body, viewing Fig. 2, and in theirspaced position define a chamber within which at one side thereofthe'block 5 is secured in fixed position. Herein the block 5 is integralwith a handle I! projecting rigidly from the body and by which it may besupported. 1

Received within the chamber above the block 5 is a member H), the loweredge of which is formed as a rack and on one end of which is the jaw 2|which projects beyond the body adjacent the right-hand side, viewingFig. 2. The member is guided for movement transversely of the body topermit inward adjustment of the jaw from the position of Fig. 2, hereinbeing interlocked with the block 5 by means of the rib 23 on the latterentering the groove 25 on the former (Fig. 3). The member l9 and the jawcarried thereby are adjusted by means of a worm 21 meshing with the rackand journalled in block 5, the worm being accessible through theopenings 29 and 3| in the side plates 1 and 9. Preferably, as best seenin Fig. 3, the worm does not project beyond the outer faces of theseplates, thereby permitting the tool to be used in close quarters. Themember I 9 is provided with the slot 33 passing the pin l5 andpermitting the adjusting movement of the member relative to the pin.

In the form of the invention shown the journal pin 35 forthe worm isreceived in a counterbored hole in the block of the same diameter as thepin at the right-hand side, viewing Fig. 2. The rivet I3 traverses theopening and serves to retain the 9 journal pin against the shoulder 31.Whenthe rivet is removed, the journal pin can be driven out by meansof atool inserted through the open;- ing 39. 7

Mounted between the side plates side by side with the member I9 isa'member 39 which may 'rest on'the upper surface of block-5: to slidethereon, being retained in position by the pin l5 which works in theslot 4| formed in the member 39. The end of the member 39 opposite thejaw 2| is provided with a jaw 43 opposing jaw 2!. The other end has adepending ear 45 extending between the two side plates within thechamberto the right of the block 5, viewing Fig. 2. Between the end of the earand the lower portion of the block 5 the chamber receives'the togglelinks 41' and 49 disposed within the perimeters of the side plates andhoused within the chamber beneath the two members l9 and39. The link 41is pivoted to the fixed pin II. The two links are connected by a pivot5| working between the two side plates while the other end of the link49 is pivotally connected to the lower end of ear 45 by means of thepivot sleeve or bushing 53, the ends of which work in slots in the twoside plates and which is retained in'position by the rivet 57 headedover on washer plates 58 of greater diameter than the width of the slots55, as best seen in Fig. 1.

To operate the toggle the link 49 may be formed as a bell crank with along arm 59 projecting from the body of the tool and forming anoperating handle, herein opposing handle I! to be operated in connectiontherewith as are the handles of pliers or tongs. The arrangement is suchthat the tOggle 41-49 can be thrown over center, as indicated by theline of centers in Fig. 2, and may come to a stop in this positionagainst a portion of the fixed block 5.

The tool in the form shown adapts itself to four principal methods ofmanipulation:-

Positive grip. In this case the handles may be held loosely with thetoggle broken and the jaws adjusted by means of the worm 21 so that theyjust lightly engage with the sides of the work. Handle 59 may then beoperated. As the toggle straightens, the work will be grippedwithtremendous force, and when the toggle'passes over center to theposition of Fig.-; 2, the jaws will be locked on the work. Itais'then:impossible for the jaws to spread and release the work and noeffort of the hand is requiredto maintain the tool in operative relationto the work. In fact, the tool when thus closed may be entirely releasedbythe hand and will be in a self-maintaining position.

Plier action. The adjustment of thejaws by means of the worm' issuchthat the toggle cannot bethrown past center. A very powerful gripmay be exerted by means of thetoggle, but a release of pressure onhandle 59 will permit the jaws to be moved freely apart. The tool canthen be used-inthe manner of a ratchet wrench grasping flats of anut,-for instance, and then when the grasp of the-handis released,rotating relatively to the work, thejaws spreading automatically as theypass the corners, after which a new grasp is takenon adjacent'fiats. Thetool shown when operated in this manner has the utility of a pair ofpliers with the added advantage of the parallel jaw feature. Moreover,as contrasted with the more usual 'formof parallel jaw pliers. themechanical advantage increases rather than decreases as thejaws aremoved together.

In a third method or operation the toggle may be thrown over centerand'the two handles held by thehand. The jaw 43 is held immovable bythetoggle and =jaw'=2l may then be adjusted to the work by means of theworm in the manner of an'ordinary adjustableend-wrench to fit the workwithout substantial clasping'pressure.

A fourth method of use'permits the power of thetoggle to be exertedthrough a long distance by a recurrentstroke. Thepowerfulpressure of thetoggle is first exerted. The toggle is then broken and adjustment madeby the worm to compensate for the deformation of the work effected bysuch pressure.

A second stroke may then be made, and so on.

The'tool is compact, free of projecting parts which would interfere withits convenient use under the various-conditions of use and the va'rious' elements are simple in construction and readily assembled.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appendedclaims 'rather than to the foregoing descriptionto indicate the scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. A tool of the class described'comprising a handle lever havinga head,a pair of side plates secured to the head, a member received between theplates and mounted for linear sliding movement, means carried by thehead for adjustably positioning said member relative thereto, a secondmember between the side plates guided on the head and movable side byside with the first,

v the plates and mounted for linear sliding movement, means carried bythe head for adjustably positioning said member relative thereto, asecond member between the side plates guided on the head and movableside by side with the first, the membershaving opposed jaws projectingbeyond the side plates, said members being slotted, a pin between theplates passing through the slots, a second .handle lever pivoted betweenthe side plates and opposing the first to provide for manual operationof the same in'the' manner of pliers or tongs, and atoggle operable bythe levers interposed between the head and the second memher.

3. A tool of the class described comprising a handle lever having ahead, a pair of side plates, means securing said side plates to thehead, a member received between the plates mounted for linearslidingmovement-and formed with a rack, the head having a counterbored opening,a journal received in the opening, a worm on the journal-meshing withthe rack, the aforesaid securing means including a pin across theopening to retain the journal, a second member between theside'plates'guide'd on the head and movable side by sidewith the first,the members having opposed jaws projecting beyond the side plates, asecond handle lever pivoted between the side plates and opposing-thefirst to provide for manual operation of the same in the manner ofpliers ortongs, and a toggleoperable by the levers interposed betweenthe .head and the second memher.

.4. A parallelmotio'n tool comprising a body having a pair of spacedcheeks, a member slidably received'between said cheeks having a jawprojectingladjacent one side of the" body, a screw adjusting meanssubstantially received within the perimeters of said cheeks butaccessible for operation from the exteriorof the body for moving the jawtransversely to said side, a second member between the cheeks and guidedfor movement therebetween transversely to said side and having adjacentthe opposite sidea cooperating jaw opposing the first to provide anunobstructed throat therebetweenfor application to the work andcorresponding to an end of the body transverse to said sides, a toggledisposed between said cheeks at the side of said members remote from thesaid end of the body, and a handle projecting from the body foroperating the toggle to close the said cooperating jaw on the work bymovement of the same toward the previously adjusted jaw first mentioned.

5. A parallel motion tool comprising a pair of side plates securedtogether in spaced relation, a block fixed in position between the sideplates, a member slidable on the block, screw means for adjusting themember and block, a companion member extending beside the first, jawscarried by the members projecting beyond the side plates, a togglebetween the block and second member for operating the jaws, and a handlelever project- .ing beyond the side plates for operating the toggle.

6. A tool as described in claim 5 wherein the means for securingtogether the side plates comprises a pin securing the block and a pivotfor the handle lever, said pin and pivot providing centers for thetoggle and extending through said plates, the plates being suitablyslotted to permit movement of the toggle relative to the same.

7. A tool of the class described comprising a block having acounterbored opening therein, a journal in the opening, a worm on thejournal, a jaw-carrying member slidably interlocked with the block andhaving a rack meshing with the worm, an opposed jaw, side plates holdingthe block, member and opposed jaw and beyond which the jaws project, andmeans for retaining the plates in position comprising a pin crossing theopening to retain the journal therein.

8. A tool of the class described comprising a pair of members, each ofwhich has a jaw ex- 7 tending from an edge thereof, the two jawsopposing one another, sides of the members transverse to said edgeslying in face to face relation for relative sliding movement in thelengthwise direction of said edges, a support relatively to which one ofthe members has adjustment in said direction, an ear on the othermember, a toggle disposed along the opposite edges of said members andhaving the distal ends of its arms pivotally connected respectively tothe support and to the ear, and a handle lever operatively associatedwith the toggle.

9. A tool of the class described comprising a pair of members, each ofwhich has a jaw extending from an edge thereof, the two jawsopposing'one another, sides of the members transverse to said edgeslying in face to face relation for relative sliding movement in thelengthwise direction of said edges, a handle lever having a head onwhich one of the members has adjustment in said direction, an ear on theother member, a toggle disposed along the opposite edges of said membersand having the distal ends of its arms pivotally connected respectivelyto the support and to the ear, a second handle lever opposed to theother manually operated therewith in the manner of pliers or tongs, andsides between the jaws and the distal ends of the levers housing saidparts JOHN W.GEDDES.

